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Printed letters, April 18, 2013

Some people in Colorado want to stop the drilling because of the environment or the deer and elk herds or sage grouse. These are all good reasons, but what about urban sprawl created by people building houses in the mountains, down by waterways and in elk breeding areas?

When we think about it, a drilling rig is there for maybe 30 days and then it leaves. They work over the well and put it into production. Then there’s only the well left with a pumper to check on it.

The way I see things is that a drilling rig is temporary. The threat to deer and elk herds is minimal compared to building houses in the mountains and increasing the number of people in these areas.

But, then, when we think of a land-use plan, they always come up with how best not to use the land or only for special interest groups that have their own agenda that doesn’t always work for everyone’s best interest.

So, in the best interest of Colorado lands, we need to limit the urban sprawl in the mountains, the closing of public land, the gun regulations and the oil and gas regulations Colorado is passing, which will also affect Colorado.

And, if Colorado wants to rely only on recreation to sustain it, then we need a land-use plan that works for all of Colorado.

CURT CLAUSSEN

Grand Junction

Government has no right to manage every facet of life

Since Valerie Etter finds the conservative values of the Grand Valley so offensive, I suggest that she consider moving to the east or west coasts where her beloved progressive causes, i.e. socialism and fascism, are in full force.

I also find it interesting that she ridicules the phrase “shame on everyone,” since that seems to be Obama’s mantra when it comes to gun control.

I am offended by her supposition that just because we don’t believe that the government can raise our children better than we can or manage our lives without their control that we don’t care about the “kiddos.”

We care just as much about the children, our country and our land as anyone else, we just don’t believe that the government has the right to tell us how to do everything and manage every facet of our lives.

That is why we have the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the constitutional amendments.

Finally, we are not a democracy; we are a representative republic. I recommend that Etter read the history of Germany and Russia during the 1930s and 1940s, so we don’t make the same mistakes they did.

RICHARD BLOSSER

Grand Junction

Students, teachers should no longer be sitting ducks

I am a mother, grandmother and former elementary school teacher with School District 51.

After attending the School Board meeting concerning preventing school attacks such as Sandy Hook from happening here, I’m concerned that more needs to be done.

Options discussed included: increased training for spotting people at risk for committing these type of crimes; fencing school grounds; screening everyone who enters; and just hoping for the best. None of these offer much protection.

With a lack of funds to hire 44 armed officers to protect each of our schools, the only practical alternative is to allow teachers and staff who volunteer and who are screened and trained to carry concealed weapons to protect themselves and the children.

This has already been tried successfully in Texas and Utah for years without any of the dire consequences predicted by opponents.

Already, 245 teachers in Colorado have received free training from the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners for concealed carry.

The lives of our children and teachers are precious to us. We can’t afford to let them be sitting ducks for killers and do so little to protect them.

These attacks nearly always occur in “gun-free zones” that provide killers with easy targets and little resistance such as the theater in Aurora, schools and shopping malls.

I have a 90-year-old friend who lives alone. A sign in her yard warns, “This home is protected by Smith and Wesson.” It’s very unlikely she’ll be troubled by any break-ins.

The same principle applies to discouragement for school attacks. The time to act has come. It’s our moral responsibility to protect our schools.

DIANE COX

Palisade

Church values revenue over respect for neighbors

Recently I got a first-hand look at the controversial belfry/cell tower being erected by Monument Baptist Church and Verizon. It is being constructed, apparently, without consultation, warning or consideration of anyone’s feelings or health.

What a tragedy for that neighborhood. The church and Verizon decided to build a view-blocking, environmentally questionable tower within a few feet of neighbors’ yards, gardens, patios and play areas for children.

Say goodbye to Christian neighborliness; say hello to revenue generation at all costs. How sad for all those involved! It’s time for Verizon to take the tower down and respect for neighbors to be restored.